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MyspaceAt a packed, standing room-only study session at Santa Barbara City College last Wednesday, President Jack Friedlander joked that the college should rent out seats, poking some self-inflicted fun at the current budget situation. That situation being downright dreary, the SBCC board is slashing left and right.
On Wednesday, it was the Continuing Education noncredit classes at the Ventura County Jail on the chopping block. Currently, SBCC offers GED, parenting, ESL, food service, and computer classes for inmates, but the board came to the general consensus that, Ventura being outside of its district, it was hard to justify continued funding. (Joan Livingston was the lone dissenter.) They decided to wait until the winter, however, to pull the plug so that the jail have time to find a replacement provider. The savings next year will be $80,000.
The other order of business at the meeting was deciding on how quickly to phase in the new privately-funded Center for Lifelong Learning which will house noncredit non-enhanced (often referred to as personal enrichment) classes. Friedlander handed out worksheets with two scenarios, one in which all such courses were moved to the forthcoming privately funded Center for Lifelong Learning by the end of next academic year, and another in which only 80 percent were converted. The board split, as it typically does, between the four members voted in during the last election and the three incumbents who argued for swifter conversion.
Joan Livingston called for 100 percent conversion, saying that Continuing Education has been a distraction for three years and that it’s time to “bite the bullet.” Trustee Marsha Croninger countered that if you cut too fast, you may never get classes back. She also made the case that, in the long run, strong community support will benefit the college financially — for instance with the passage of bond measures — more than saving a few hundred thousand dollars will now.
Trustee Luis Villegas said that the standoff would be rendered moot if the college can tap into a $936,000 “student body account” accumulated through excess continuing education materials and lab fees over dozens of years.
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Comments
While I'm sure bleeding hearts will lament the loss of services to inmates, I think this was a great decision. Not only were services being provided out of district but it seems shortsighted to pamper those who have chosen to commit crimes and deprive loical students of services. (I'm a proud SBCC grad, class of 1974).
winddancer1562 (anonymous profile)
June 26, 2012 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No its not a great idea, only short sighted, vindictive individuals would think so. Its quite a bad idea in fact, that flies in the face of facts. People with prison records have a tough enough time outside, the ones who truly wish to turn over a new leaf. It's in society's best interest as well to assist them in rehabilitation. Every prisoner is different with a different background and set of circumstances. Unfortunately there will always be those who are unreformable. But it is just as big a crime to let those fall thru the cracks who did not have the upbringing ect to make the better choices in their lives.
There is no reason that services to on campus or in prison students need be cut when there are other areas of waste. This isn't Texas thank God.
Ken_Volok (anonymous profile)
June 26, 2012 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry Ken but I still feel it's about time more support was given to young people who make good choices. Where resources are limited, why shouldn't local youngsters who want to get ahead take priority?
winddancer1562 (anonymous profile)
June 26, 2012 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Of course we should, we are in total agreement there. Let;s look at the Board's own budget before slashing ANY educational opportunities. Do board members get a salary or stipend? Who buys their coffee?
Ken_Volok (anonymous profile)
June 26, 2012 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I.e. if board members are sincere and serious about education, than education- for anyone- would be the last thing cut- after their perks!
Ken_Volok (anonymous profile)
June 26, 2012 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad about cutting classes for inmates who of all adult ed students probably most need the classes. However, the issue is whether the SB community college should pay for classes outside of the county. I think not. There are three community colleges in Ventura County. Why do they not fund these classes?
at_large (anonymous profile)
June 26, 2012 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not outside the County I wouldn't think we'd be involved.. unless its a County operated institution..
Ken_Volok (anonymous profile)
June 26, 2012 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
At a time of budget cuts it's a good decision to cut funding to those classes that are located outside of the college district AND are required by the jails to provide. Ventura college or some other entity can fund them, or we could charge them (Ventura County Jail) to keep doing those classes.
I agree that the first priority should be the SBCC credit students, along with the Santa Barbara community who attend both the credit and noncredit classes to better themselves. A better educated community benefits everyone.
whatsername (anonymous profile)
June 26, 2012 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)